“Mount & Blade Rules.” Shen Mu, of course, knew what that pure, night-like feeling was.
A slight smile played on his lips.
He lightly tapped his horse's belly, urging the warhorse beneath him to charge faster, entering the moonlit area of the earthen mound.
He arrived at New Uxhall.
“Who goes there? State your purpose!” On the earthen slope of New Uxhall, a patrol team consisting of 10 Swadian Light Infantry and 10 Rodok Skilled Crossbowmen stood at the top of the slope, maintaining forward vigilance.
Upon hearing the clear sounds of hooves from below the slope and seeing figures emerge directly from the darkness and gray mist, they immediately issued a stern reprimand.
But as soon as their voices fell, their expressions suddenly changed.
From initial sternness and solemnity, it turned into astonishment and pleasant surprise.
“It’s Lord Shen Mu! It’s Knight Fatis! And the Holy Tree Knight!”
“Lord Shen Mu has come to inspect!”
“Quick, make way, make way! Don’t block Lord Shen Mu’s path up on horseback!”
These Swadian Light Infantry and Rodok Skilled Crossbowmen had already seen that it was Shen Mu, Fatis, and 20 Holy Tree Knights approaching.
So, at the squad leader’s shouts, they all retreated to both sides.
They cleared the ramp leading to the earthen mound, which they had blocked with their spear formation and shield wall, allowing the Knights charging directly from outside to reach the top of the mound.
“Greetings, Respected Lord Shen Mu!”
And when Shen Mu and his companions arrived on the platform of the earthen mound, the patrol team quickly lined up neatly, bowing respectfully.
“Mm.” Shen Mu merely raised a hand to them from horseback, signaling them to stand up, and at the same time asked, “Have you noticed anything unusual during this period?”
“Nothing unusual, Respected Lord Shen Mu. Everything is very calm here. Besides the Undead Monsters that appear at night, no enemies have been able to reach the walls of New Uxhall.”
The Swadian Light Infantry squad leader, who was at the forefront, reported, “That’s how it is.”
“Very good.” Shen Mu was also very satisfied at this moment.
However, just as he was speaking, the main gate of New Uxhall Castle was slowly opening.
Bandak, having heard the news, was leading 10 Holy Tree Knights assigned to protect him, running out on foot.
He came all the way to Shen Mu’s presence.
He respectfully bowed to him with a hand over his chest: “Greetings, Respected Lord Shen Mu. I didn’t expect you to come in the evening. We weren’t fully prepared, and I hope you can forgive our simple reception.”
“Don’t speak of such empty things.” Seeing Bandak approach, Shen Mu dismounted.
Including Fatis and the 20 Holy Tree Knights behind him, they also dismounted from their horses.
And one Holy Tree Knight even stepped forward, took the reins from Shen Mu’s hand, and led his warhorse aside, making it convenient for Shen Mu to walk and talk.
Another Holy Tree Knight also walked over and took Fatis’s warhorse.
“Then, Lord Shen Mu and Knight Fatis, let’s enter the castle together. The castle kitchen has prepared a rather lavish dinner. Please wait a moment, and if it’s possible, please allow me to dine with you.”
Bandak said at this point, and made a gesturing motion, leading Shen Mu and Fatis into the castle.
Shen Mu and Fatis followed him all the way into New Uxhall Castle.
“Greetings, Respected Lord Shen Mu!”
“Long live Lord Shen Mu!”
“Great Lord Shen Mu, greetings!”
Inside the castle walls and within the castle, the Swadian soldiers and Rodok soldiers stationed there respectfully saluted Shen Mu as he entered, and also let out excited cheers.
After all, everyone is constantly loyal to Shen Mu, which means Shen Mu holds considerable prestige and authority in their hearts.
It also shows that Shen Mu is a deeply beloved leader in their hearts.
“Mm, very good.”
Shen Mu walked into New Uxhall at this moment, looking at the Mount & Blade Soldiers cheering and saluting him, and did not show any arrogance. He still raised his hand and waved at them.
This also represented his approval of these Mount & Blade Soldiers.
This was mutual recognition between both sides.
There was no other way; after all, Shen Mu possessed the Mount & Blade Rules and the Mount & Blade System, so these Mount & Blade Soldiers were equivalent to his vassals.
And the Mount & Blade System was already completely bound to him, which also meant that Shen Mu could not leave this Mount & Blade System, as well as the Mount & Blade Rules extended from the Mount & Blade System and the Mount & Blade Soldiers belonging to it.
Then Shen Mu, Bandak, and Fatis entered the main castle building.
Then, a Swadian Light Infantry acting as a servant brought honey water with honey added.
“Please enjoy, Respected Lord Shen Mu.”
The Swadian Light Infantry respectfully said this and then retreated from the area, standing by to await summons.
“Lord Shen Mu, this is honey water chilled from the well, with some dates and apple bits added. The only pity is that there is no yogurt or cheese here. If some could be added, the taste would be even richer.” Bandak respectfully said to Shen Mu at this time.
“Mm, very good food, very thirst-quenching and cool.” Shen Mu’s lips curved slightly. He looked at the somewhat thin liquid, which had no yogurt or cheese added, and without saying anything, picked up the wooden bowl and drank.
The taste was very refreshing, just as he said.
“Very good, very thirst-quenching.” Fatis also nodded in praise from the side.
After all, their journey had been quite tiring, and to have a cool, sweet drink that gently touched their hearts at this moment was simply wonderful.
Of course, this was not the main topic of their conversation, but merely an opening to bring up the subject.
“How have things been during this time? Have you encountered any special situations?” Shen Mu asked.
“Everything is normal, Respected Lord Shen Mu, except for the Undead Monsters attacking us at night, no other unusual situations have been discovered.”
Bandak immediately replied, “And even to the north, the Green Leaf Group, which you asked me to secretly monitor—that is, those Wood Elves—there have been no special circumstances.” As he spoke, he lowered his voice and said in a deep tone, “I have received news from the Kujit, and this truly infuriates me. Those damned fellows, from the very first moment I saw them, I knew they weren’t good people.”
Now, as Bandak recalled his first encounter with those Wood Elves, their extreme arrogance, and the contempt in their eyes and expressions when looking down on him and his people, a surge of anger rose in Bandak’s heart.
If it was just extreme arrogance and pride, that would be one thing; looking down on others might not matter.
At that time, everyone was facing the threat of the Diesel Company.
And most crucially, the leader of the opposing side was also a Blue Star Human, acting as commander.
They were still able to communicate.
He just didn't expect that before their verbal alliance was even broken, the other party would shamelessly launch a sneak attack, and the target of the attack was Deherim, which directly made Bandak, who had not participated in the battle but heard about the extremely dangerous moment last night, look extremely grim.
This was a sneak attack that broke the alliance.
Moreover, the sneak attack on Deherim was intended to be a decapitation strike against Lord Shen Mu, to completely kill Lord Shen Mu.
And most critically, not only did Bandak not participate in this battle, but his New Uxhall, as an important nail guarding between the Wood Elf Village (i.e., the Green Leaf Group) and Deherim, heard no news and did nothing.
He just stood by and watched it all unfold.
It was only after the battle ended, when light infantry from Deherim came to deliver a message to him, warning him to be vigilant, that he understood that such a serious incident had occurred in Deherim.
This caused immense guilt in Bandak’s heart, who had always guarded New Uxhall and believed he bore the significant responsibility of protecting Deherim.
Of course, this guilt also transformed into anger towards the Wood Elves of the Green Leaf Group.
Bandak was certainly a good person.
His care for ordinary civilians far surpassed that of others in the righteous faction, let alone those evil individuals who didn't even treat civilians as human beings.
But even if Bandak was a good person, in the face of such a sneak attack, such shamelessness, and such a deranged decapitation operation by the Wood Elves of the Green Leaf Group, aiming to destroy Deherim and kill Shen Mu—
Bandak had now made up his mind to completely destroy the Green Leaf Group and that Wood Elf Village.
This was revenge, this was retribution.
This was to let everyone in the future know that if anyone dared to attack Deherim or offend Lord Shen Mu, even the Generals of the righteous faction would mercilessly use their iron fists and wrath to show them what it means to be inviolable.
After all, if Deherim were destroyed and Lord Shen Mu killed, it would mean that those who emerged from the Mount & Blade World would lose their world.
Their world would be invaded by death spirit rules and enter a countdown to destruction together.
Lord Shen Mu was the savior.
New Deherim, founded by Lord Shen Mu, was the city of the savior in everyone’s hearts.
If anyone dared to offend Deherim, even Bandak, the good-natured old man among the righteous faction, would resolve the matter through war.
After all, although he was a good person, Bandak also understood what it meant to use evil to combat evil as a necessary means to maintain a beautiful future outcome.
“Lord Shen Mu, therefore, I am willing to accept your suggestion, and this is a necessary action.” Bandak said with a solemn expression at this moment, “Our kindness and justice should be given to those kind, righteous, and weak civilians, but for those evil villains, there’s no need to talk about kindness and justice. We must eradicate them to uphold our kindness and justice.”
“That’s true.” Fatis shrugged beside him, agreeing with Bandak’s statement.
This was also an explanation and a reason; otherwise, what could these Generals of the righteous and benevolent factions do?
They were all Generals born from the chaotic war-torn world of Calradia.
Each of them had killed people with their own hands.
And they had killed quite a few people.
In fact, both of them carried original sin.
One was Fatis, who killed his new younger brother, and the other was Bandak, who killed his greedy superior due to some conflict.
They then found redemption during their travels.
They now deeply abhorred the darkness.
That is why they clearly forged a path of light through the darkness, seeking light to illuminate themselves and Calradia, so that this world would not seem so dark.
“Very good, Bandak.” Shen Mu didn’t say much, just a smile played on his lips.
It was enough that Bandak approved of his idea.
Because next,
what he was going to do,
was a sneak attack!
And it was a sneak attack carried out under the guise of peace talks.
If it were on Calradia, this would be the most despicable act, something no one could tolerate.
Of course, those who could tolerate it would definitely be Generals from the evil factions like Lezalit and Bestour.
They would not only tolerate it but would also excitedly express their desire to participate.
They might even get emotional if they couldn't participate in such a sneak attack.
Precisely because this kind of feigned sneak attack is considered the most despicable act in the eyes of people with normal values and moral integrity,
Shen Mu proceeded with it anyway.
Therefore, the Generals of the righteous and benevolent factions would definitely protest against such an action.
This was also why Shen Mu came to New Uxhall and personally met with Bandak to discuss the upcoming tactical arrangements. He felt relieved when he saw that Bandak did not object.
He didn’t want his current Generals to protest because of his actions.
After all, in the game, if the Generals disliked each other or disapproved of the player’s actions, they would protest. After two or three protests, they would automatically leave the player’s party.
As the saying goes, “Those whose paths diverge cannot plan together,” so they would leave on their own.
If they left in the game, these Generals could still enter taverns, and if encountered, could be re-recruited or not recruited based on their interests.
But this was the real world now. If these Generals left, Shen Mu had no idea where he could find them again.
Losing a General would have a significant impact on Shen Mu.
After all, these Generals could not only share Shen Mu’s military pressure but also his daily work pressure, and even communicate to alleviate his inner loneliness. (End of Chapter)
